Buhari Tells APC Governors Why Tinubu Announced Shettima In Daura

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained the reason the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, announced former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate while on a visit to him in Daura.

Naija News had reported that some APC governors expressed their displeasure over the manner in which Tinubu on Sunday announced Shettima as his running mate during a Sallah homage to the President in Daura, Katsina State.

The governors were angry that Tinubu made the announcement when he had not finished their discussions with him regarding his running mate.

The aggrieved governors claimed that the APC Presidential candidate didn’t care about their opinion even though he would rely on them for mobilisation.

According to the APC governors, they watched Tinubu’s announcement like every other Nigerian after he admitted he had not informed Shettima of his decision to pick him as running mate.

Putting up some defence for Tinubu, President Buhari said the former Lagos governor had to announce Shettima as his running mate because his decision had already been leaked to the press.

A source at the meeting told This Day that the President told the aggrieved governors that Tinubu didn’t plan to disregard the understanding they had with him.

The source said the President informed the governors that the APC Presidential candidate had told him that he was to meet with them for proper briefing before the unveiling.

Buhari stated that Tinubu was still with him when some section of the media had started breaking the news that he had settled for Shettima and Tinubu needed to respond to it immediately.

The President claimed that a leak from the Tinubu camp forced the APC candidate to take the initiative immediately and announced Shettima as his running mate whilst still in Daura.

According to the source, Buhari, however, pleaded with the governors to accept Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate since he is a loyal party member.

The nine governors were led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, along with the host governor, Aminu Masari of Katsina State.

Others were Governor Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Governor Abubakar Bello (Niger); Governor Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Governor Hope Uzodinma (lmo); Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Governor Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).